15-yr-old boy sent to juvenile home for raping classmate

Lucknow: A 15-year-old boy was apprehended and sent to a juvenile home for allegedly raping his girl classmate in Banthra area of Lucknow, police said on Wednesday.

According to officials, the incident came to light after the girl’s mother returned home and found her distressed. The child narrated the ordeal, following which the mother approached police and lodged complaint.

Acting on complaint filed on Jun 9 night, Banthra police registered FIR under Section 65(2) (rape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 5(M)/6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Police said the accused, who is a minor and a classmate of the survivor, had allegedly lured the girl before committing the offence.

The investigation was supervised by ACP Krishnanagar Rajneesh Verma. Two teams were formed to expedite the probe.

On Jun 10, the juvenile was taken into custody from near his residence in Latifnagar village. He was subsequently produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and sent to a juvenile home, police said. Officials added that further legal proceedings were being conducted in accordance with due process.

Child psychologist Ankit Chaurasiya opined, “Such cases underline need to recognise that children can experience as well as perpetrate harm. Early intervention, age-appropriate awareness and open communication within families and schools are critical to prevent boundary violations and ensure timely support for both survivor and the child in conflict with law.”